UMSL business major Tucker Hiegel (left) talks with Patrick Garrett, senior vice president of digital marketing for Fleishman-Hillard in St. Louis, during the speed networking event.

Ninety seconds isn’t much time, but for some University of Missouri–St. Louis College of Business Administration students it was enough to make a networking connection.

“I really didn’t have a strategy going in, but I quickly learned that telling them I was a business major with a chemistry minor was my hook,” said UMSL student Sean Fieser.

The UMSL Marketing Club held the speed networking event on Feb. 27. Much like speed dating, representatives from 15 companies were stationed at tables, while students had a minute and a half to speak with each one. No resumes were allowed, only the exchange of handshakes and business cards.

Breanna Johnston, who is majoring in business with an emphasis in marketing and international business, serves as the public relations officer for the marketing club and helped organize the event.

“The event was important for the students because it gave them the opportunity to not only meet professionals around the St. Louis area, but they got to practice selling themselves,” Johnson said. “There was a lot of pressure with the 90-second time allowance so you had to be quick on your feet and show them why you would be someone to look for in the future.

The photograph was taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL.